Or - it may simply be a question of the skills to win on the mid-class bikes won't transfer so well to the premier class. Remember how heroic Aoyama was on the 250s beating out riders on superior equipment, later falling on his face in MGP. Lorenzo and Marquez had in common their ability to win consistently, something that can't be said about Miller.

That is just something I have always said, which is just because you can win in one class does not guarantee you a win in another class but, I will counter by saying that your examples (Lorenzo and Marquez) both went direct to factory rides in the top grade which, as we know, riding a factory (particularly a Yamaha or Honda RCV) WILL make winning easier.

Or - it may simply be a question of the skills to win on the mid-class bikes won't transfer so well to the premier class. Remember how heroic Aoyama was on the 250s beating out riders on superior equipment, later falling on his face in MGP. Lorenzo and Marquez had in common their ability to win consistently, something that can't be said about Miller.

Sure, but it does make you wonder particularly since Jack himself has said his Honda satellite bike was slow, and Ducati are reported to give their satellite teams something closer to the factory bikes, which Miller's times so far would seem to support. Certainly the Honda customer bike a few seasons ago promoted on the basis of Stoner's times seemed to be a dog.

I have never thought Jack was another MM, but he was fairly consistent in his runner up season in moto 3 and never raced moto 2 obviously, and was usually fast in bike equalising conditions such as wet races on the satellite Honda as has been said.

Interesting read and I look forward to his season but talk like that is no way to sell T-shirts.

That's why it's such a good read.
Zarco obviously feels it's not his job to sell t-shirts but to ride the M1 as fast as possible. A job he seems to be doing better than anyone just now.
Follows up 2017 season and testing this winter with the same pace and a promotion is due.

Yes, I was thinking Stefan Bradl, a moto 2 champion who actually defeated MM to win that championship even more than Jack, a moto 3 runner-up.

Whether he will keep the Ducati upright in races is another question of course, but testing so far on a year old Ducati suggests the satellite Honda was limiting his pace.

I am so disappointed at how Bradl's career turned out.
He was about to shoot himself to the moon. The controversies around Forward Racing really destroyed his chances. He sort of started redeeming himself at Aprilia, but Aprilia being the geniuses that they are decided that he and Bautista were dead weight (I don't know why anyone would want to race with them, even though I am a fan of the brand, their race management seems myopic and toxic). Then his career went full circle when he went back to racing another sub par Honda at WSBK.

I really wanted him to tear his Honda development deal into shreds and sign with Herve for Folger's seat. But it was not to be.

One wonders if the fact that Bradl is German went against him with regards to Folger's replacement (German for German), or as I suspect is more likely, his contractual obligations with another manufacturer (Honda) would have ruled him out immediately.

It's been a while since we had a completely new circuit join theMotoGPcalendar – theRed Bull RinginAustriare-joined the world championship in 2016, while theTermas de Rio Hondocircuit inArgentinacame on stream two years earlier.

So it was with much anticipation (and plenty of cold water) that MotoGP arrived in steaming hotThailandlast week for a three-day test at theChang International Circuit, located atBuriram, a little over 400 kilometres northeast of the country's capital,Bangkok.

The 4.6km track, which has played host to World Superbikes for the past three years, will hold its first world championship Grands Prix in October this year, meaning riders and teams were keen to bank as much knowledge as they could over three days of running, and to familiarise themselves with the 12-turn layout. "I've adapted to it pretty quickly, and the circuit itself is very fast," said Alma Pramac Ducati'sJack Millerafter the second day of the test, adding "it’s a little bit like Austria, minus the elevation changes." We're presuming he meant minus snow-capped mountains, lush green fields and a giant bull statue, as well …

MORE:Jack Miller talks testing, 2018 and life at Ducati

The comparisons between Austria and Buriram are valid – the Thailand circuit is 300m longer, has two more corners and is just as wide (12m) as the Red Bull Ring – but while Austria has been Ducati territory for the past two seasons, Buriram was all about Honda, factory riderDani Pedrosasetting the fastest time of the test (a lap of 1min 29.781secs on the final day), and becoming the third Honda to top the timesheets afterCal Crutchlowled day one, and Pedrosa's teammate and reigning world championMarc Marquezset the day two benchmark.

Pre-season testing times should be taken with a grain of salt – who would have thought Ducati'sJorge Lorenzowould struggle so much after dominating the Malaysian test just two weeks previously? – butthe timesheets can tell usthatJohann Zarcois plainly the fastest man on a Yamaha, factory Yamaha ridersValentino RossiandMaverick Vinaleshave a lot of head-scratching to do between now and the final test in Qatar in a fortnight's time, and Miller and Ducati appear to be the perfect marriage, the Aussie backing up his strong showing at Sepang by finishing sixth overall – and the fastest Ducati rider – in Buriram.

MORE:What we learned from the Malaysia MotoGP test

That's what the stopwatch says, but what did the riders themselves think of the new circuit? Here's what they had to say, and where they finished after three days of sweltering action in front of grandstands that were routinely packed, the locals showing their love for all things two wheels before racing starts in earnest in eight months' time.

Dani Pedrosa

Repsol Honda Team (1:29.781, 1st overall)

"The circuit is quite narrow, so it’s important to use the right lines and carry speed. We’re working to find the best balance in order to be quick in both the fast sectors and the more twisty ones."

"Regarding the track layout, it seemed quite fast to me when I lapped it on a scooter yesterday, but today riding my bike, I realised it was slower that I was expecting, with many second- or third-gear corners. Still, there are some hard acceleration and braking points, and it will probably be challenging to manage tyre life, so we’ll work on that as well."

"The layout of the circuit is fascinating. I expected it to be more dirty, especially in the morning, but I had the feeling of having a good grip right away. It's a fast track and it's nice to race here. To do the best lap time you have to be patient and you have to give up a bit in braking to get the acceleration, especially on the Ducati. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that at the moment. But being patient isn’t one of my strong points …"

"The Buriram track is very unusual and it wasn’t easy to get used to its layout. There are three corners which are virtually hairpins and then the rest is quite a pretty straightforward run. It’s quite a slow track for our bike, but it’s always interesting to try new circuits."

Maverick Vinales

Movistar Yamaha MotoGP (+0.493secs, 8th)

"I like the track a lot, it fits my riding style quite well with these flowing corners."

Danilo Petrucci

Alma Pramac Racing (+0.586secs, 9th)

"I liked the track right away. We were expecting to find a circuit with a lot of aggressive braking but many curves turned out to be fast."

MORE:6 MotoGP storylines we're predicting for 2018

Tito Rabat

Reale Avintia Racing (+0.695secs, 11th)

"I like the circuit and I had a lot of fun. It has several parts that reminded me of Qatar, others of Texas… it has some long straights and the asphalt is okay, although at the beginning of the day it was a little bit dirty. But the first impression was very good."

"First of all, the feeling with the track is not too bad, I expect worse, but first of all the track is in a good condition. It's clean and the asphalt has good grip. This is very important. And also the layout. I remembered [this track to be] more similar to Austria, so I was very worried. But when you ride maybe it is more similar to Argentina. It's good to ride, you have a good feeling, you enjoy. The track is not very difficult but anyway it's fun. Technically it's quite easy, but it's not boring."

"To be honest, the track surprised me. I had more fun than I thought I would. The first part is not particularly interesting with all the straights connected by braking sections, but overall it is a nice track."

Alvaro Bautista

Angel Nieto Team (+1.102secs, 17th)

"It's a track that has a couple of good points like Turn 4, where you go into it very fast and you have to go down a couple of gears and enter quickly. The circuit reminds me a little of Austria; it's varied and fun. I thought it looked easier, on paper, but riding a MotoGP bike complicates everything a bit more. The last two sectors are critical; they are narrow and you have to clearly choose the line because otherwise you can lose a lot of time.

I am so disappointed at how Bradl's career turned out.
He was about to shoot himself to the moon. The controversies around Forward Racing really destroyed his chances. He sort of started redeeming himself at Aprilia, but Aprilia being the geniuses that they are decided that he and Bautista were dead weight (I don't know why anyone would want to race with them, even though I am a fan of the brand, their race management seems myopic and toxic). Then his career went full circle when he went back to racing another sub par Honda at WSBK.

I really wanted him to tear his Honda development deal into shreds and sign with Herve for Folger's seat. But it was not to be.

That’s the thing, Honda have burnt a considerable number of satellite riders in the last decade, and it is hard to believe none of them had any talent, particularly the likes of Bradl. They are pretty much entirely dependent on MM, with Dani worthy though he may be hardly a long term bet for the future. I guess MM as their only option hardly makes HRC a one trick pony, as a conveyance he is more an intergalactic starship, but if he gets bored and leaves I am not sure where they go, particularly with their engineering led culture producing not very rideable bikes in recent years which MM has mainly overcome.